However, I've seen Shires write each other in for every award in the book. Their stated goal is to have everybody in the Shire get SOME kind of Award whenever they have a royal presence

Really? Really really? *Wow*. I believe you, but I've never seen it (for which I am grateful).

Are your Grant level awards polling, there? They are here and I wonder if that makes a difference.... though I think part of the difference ends up being the people who travel more get seen more, rather than those whose local groups think they're great. To-may-to to-mah-to, in some ways.